WO2013150218A1

WO2013150218A1 - Electric cut-off safety device

Info

Publication number: WO2013150218A1
Application number: PCT/FR2013/050644
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludovic COLCHEN; Robert Lassartesses
Original assignee: Renault S.A.S.
Priority date: 2012-04-03
Filing date: 2013-03-26
Publication date: 2013-10-10
Also published as: ES2576492T3; EP2834828A1; EP2834828B1; JP6158301B2; JP2015523839A; US20150069835A1; US9744860B2; FR2988901B1; FR2988901A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric cut-off safety device (1) for the power circuits (11) of an electric bipolar vehicle capable of cutting off two poles (5, 6, 8, 9). The invention also relates to an electric vehicle including such an electric cut-off safety device (1).

Description

Electrical safety cut-off device

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle and more particularly the securing of a power battery of such a vehicle by a safety electrical cut-off device.

Such a safety electrical cut-off device is intended to isolate a power battery in order to prevent any current / potential difference in any part of the power circuit, in order to safely carry out an intervention on the vehicle, either in after-sales by the after-sales teams, or after an accident by the rescue teams. It should be noted that in the event of an accident, the power circuit may have been damaged and may have additional short circuits.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a power circuit 41 of an electric vehicle according to the prior art typically comprises a power battery 42, comprising, for example, two half-packs 42A, 42B, a connector 43, a relay relay connection 44 and a safety cut-off device 31. The power circuit 41 may further comprise other components, such as fuses, not shown.

The connector 43 makes it possible to connect the power circuit 41 to the utilization circuit comprising, among others, the motor (s). This connector 43 allows disconnection, for example to be able to replace the entire power circuit 41 and thus the power battery 42.

The electric safety cutoff device 31 opens the power circuit 41 to secure access to the battery 42 and the electric vehicle. For this purpose, a safety electrical breaking device 31 typically comprises a base 33 in which a plug 32 is placed, in order to close an electrical circuit 35. The extraction of the plug 32 from the base 33, by withdrawal of a part 35 of the power circuit 41 guarantees the electrical opening of the power circuit 41.

The connection relay 44 makes it possible to control, by closing, respectively opening, of at least one contact, the switching on or off of the power circuit 41.

According to the prior art, the electrical safety cut-off device 31 is mono polar, in that it cuts only one of the two poles 45, 46 of the power battery 42. For this, the electric safety cut-off device 31 comprises only a single circuit 35 selectively openable. The device electrical safety cutout 31 is disposed in the power circuit 41, at a first pole 45 of the power battery 42, at a second pole 46 of the power battery 42 or as illustrated in FIG. 1, between the two half-packs 42A, 42B of the power battery 42.

However, such a configuration provides only limited security downstream of the half-packs 42A, 42B of the power battery 42 and does not guarantee the absence of potential difference in the event of cumulative failure of several protective barriers. Thus, according to an illustrative scenario, if a connection relay 44 remains stuck, and a means of isolating the battery, supposed to isolate the battery 42 from the chassis of the vehicle, is defective, for example following an accident, a difference electrical potential may be present between an active portion of the pole 45, 46 deficient and the vehicle frame at any point on the electric vehicle.

In addition, such a mono-polar configuration of the electrical safety cut-off device 31 requires, in order to ensure conformity with the regulations in force, a bipolar connection relay 44, as shown in FIG.

The present invention greatly improves the security and guarantees a lack of potential difference, in many scenarios, including in the event of failure of the protective barriers.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is an electric vehicle comprising a power circuit, said circuit comprising a power battery comprising two half-packs, a connector for connecting the power circuit to an electric motor, as well as a relay for connection to power on or off the power circuit. The power circuit further comprises a bipolar safety electric breaking device arranged so as to be able to disconnect the two poles of the power battery.

Advantageously, the device may comprise a base and a removable plug.

In one embodiment, the plug may further comprise at least one main fuse on at least one of the poles. For example, the main fuse may be a fast fuse.

In one embodiment, the plug may include a locking / unlocking lever on the base, adapted to achieve a reduction.

In one embodiment, the vehicle may further include a means of testing the presence of the plug in the base.

In one embodiment, the electrical safety cutoff device may be disposed between the power battery and the connector.

In one embodiment, the power circuit may further comprise a first secondary fuse disposed near the electrical safety cut-off device. For example, the first secondary fuse may be a slow fuse. For example, the first secondary fuse may be disposed on a pole not protected by a main fuse.

In one embodiment, the power circuit may further comprise a second secondary fuse disposed between the two half-packs. For example, the second secondary fuse may be a slow fuse.

In one embodiment, the connection relay may be monopolar.

Advantageously, the connection relay can be arranged between the two half-packs.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which:

FIG. 1, already described, presents a power circuit according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a safety electric breaking device according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a safety electrical breaking device according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 4 presents a power circuit according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 5 presents a power circuit according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 6 presents a power circuit according to a third embodiment,

FIGS. 7-8 show a plane of a base according to an embodiment, FIG. 7 in a view from below, and FIG. 8 in front view. FIG. 9 shows this same base in perspective view, FIG. 10 presents the sheet of FIGS. 11-13 in perspective view,

Figures 11-13 show a plane of a plug according to one embodiment, Figure 11 in bottom view, Figure 12 in front view and Figure 13 in left view.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, a safety electrical breaking device 1 is bipolar, in that it makes it possible to simultaneously cut the two poles 15, 16 of a battery 12.

For this, as illustrated in FIG. 2 according to a first embodiment, and in FIG. 3 according to a second embodiment, the electrical safety cutoff device 1 comprises a first interrupted electrical circuit 8, respectively a second circuit. electrical 9 interrupted, and a first electrical junction circuit 5, respectively a second electrical junction circuit 6, adapted to close said first electrical circuit 8, respectively said second electrical circuit 9, at its interruption.

According to one embodiment, the first interrupted electrical circuit 8 and the second interrupted electrical circuit 9 are arranged in a base 3 of the electrical safety cutoff device 1, while the first electrical junction circuit 5 and the second electrical junction circuit 6 are arranged in a plug 2 complementary to said base 3 and adapted to come selectively to join, respectively disengage, with said base 3 so as to close, respectively the opening of said electrical circuits 8, 9.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment where the two poles are connected live, while Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment where the two poles are crossed.

According to one embodiment the plug 2 can remain secured to the base 3 with a restricted mobility selectively to close / open said electrical circuits 8, 9.

According to a preferred alternative embodiment, the plug 2 is removable and can be completely separated from the base 3. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows, when the plug 2 is removed and the circuits 8, 9 are open, to record the plug 2 away from the base 3, the power circuit 11 and the electric vehicle. The absence of the plug 2, comprising a portion 5, 6 and removed, each of the two electrical circuits, leaves the two electrical circuits 8, 9 interrupted, and physically guarantees an efficient and secure electrical cut.

According to one embodiment, the electrical safety cutoff device 1 advantageously comprises a main fuse 7 on at least one of its poles. It can thus include two such main fuses 7, each arranged on one of the poles. Each of said at least one main fuse 7 can be indifferently disposed in the base 3 or in the plug 2. However according to a preferred embodiment, said at least one main fuse 7 is advantageously arranged in the form 2. Thus, if this plug 2 is removable, the plug 2 together said at least one main fuse 7 constitute a maintenance unit easily repliaçabie. Said at least one main fuse 7 can thus be replaced by replacing the plug 2 by a new plug 2.

According to one embodiment, the electrical safety cutoff device 1 advantageously comprises a locking / unlocking means in order to ensure a good hold of the plug 2 in place in the base 3, and this despite the vibrations and shocks that can be transmitted by the electric vehicle to the electrical safety cut-off device 1.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the electrical safety cut-off device 1 further comprises a first reduction means adapted to assist the insertion of the plug 2 into the base 3 with a reduced insertion force.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the safety electrical breaking device 1 further comprises a second reduction means adapted to assist the extraction of the plug 2 out of the base 3 with a reduced insertion force.

The locking means, the unlocking means, the first insertion reduction means and the second extraction demultiplication means can advantageously be combined and made by means of a lever 4, for example integral with the plug 2, cooperating with at least one lug 19 disposed opposite and secured to the base 3.

Such an embodiment is more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lever 4 is articulated about an axis of rotation 21 relative to the plug 2. It comprises a groove 20 having substantially a spiral shape and able to engage, when form 2 is presented next to the base 3, a lug 19 integral with the base 3.

During insertion / locking, the lever 4 is initially in a vertical position, relative to the figure. In this position the groove 20 has an opening for engaging the lug 19. The lever 4 is then maneuvered to perform a clockwise rotation about the axis of rotation 21 to reach a horizontal position relative to the Fig. In doing so, a first contours of the groove 20, that disposed below in the figure, comes into contact against said pin 19. This achieves a reduction that facilitates the insertion of the plug 2 in the base 3. The form in spiral of the groove 20 tends during this clockwise rotation to bring the lug 19 of the axis of rotation 21. At the end of said rotation, the same contour, always in contact with the lug 19 provides a locking of the assembly sheet 2 / base 3.

During an unlocking / extraction, the lever 4 is initially in a horizontal position, relative to the figure. It is then maneuvered to rotate counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 21 to reach a vertical position, relative to the figure. In doing so, the second of the contours of the groove 20, that disposed above in the figure, comes into contact with said pin 19. This support achieves a reduction that facilitates the extraction of the plug 2 from the base 3. The spiral shape of the groove 20 tends during this counterclockwise rotation away from the pin 19 of the axis of rotation 21. At the end of said rotation, the lug 19 is opposite said opening of the groove 20 and can be disengaged in order to separate the plug 2 from the base 3.

The combination of the locking means, the unlocking means, the first insertion reduction means, and the second extraction demultiplication means advantageously simplifies the insertion or extraction maneuvers. Indeed a single operation of the lever 4 simultaneously allows to perform the insertion and locking or simultaneously unlocking and extraction.

The extraction demultiplication means is particularly useful for ensuring a possibility of power failure, even when the current is set. It appears in this case an extraction effort of the order of 24 daN. Leveraging means 4, as described above, advantageously makes it possible to reduce this effort to one-fourth, ie a value of 6 daN, which is more ergonomically acceptable. The entire body of the electrical safety cut-off device 1, excluding the electrical parts: fuse (s) 7, circuits 5, 6, 8, 9, both of the plug and of the base is advantageously made of plastic by molding. In order to withstand the high temperatures that can be caused by the passage of the current, this plastic is advantageously reinforced by the presence of fibers.

Said at least one main fuse 7, disposed in the electrical safety cut-off device 1, is advantageously a fast fuse. A fast fuse is understood here relative to the other secondary fuses 17, 18 which can be arranged in the power circuit 11. Thus, in the event of competition between a main fuse 7 and a secondary fuse 17, 18, one of the at least one fuse Principal 7 will melt primarily. This is particularly advantageous in configurations where said at least one main fuse 7 is more easily replaceable.

According to one embodiment, the electrical safety cut-off device 1 also comprises a test means 10, 20 for the presence of the plug 2 in the base 3. This can be achieved by an electrical circuit 10, 20 interrupted when the plug 2 is removed from the base 3. Said electrical circuit 10, 20 comprises a portion 10 secured to the plug 2 which closes an interrupted portion 20 integral with the base 3, when the plug 2 is inserted into the base 3. It is thus possible to electrically test the presence of the plug 2 in the base 3, by any means capable of selectively detecting an opening / closing of said electrical circuit 10, 20.

The invention also relates to the use of such a safety electric breaking device 1 according to any one of the preceding embodiments on an electric vehicle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, a power circuit 11 of an electric vehicle according to the invention typically comprises a power battery 12, comprising, for example, two half-packs 12A, 12B, a connector 13, a relay connection 14 and a safety cut-off device 1. The power circuit 11 may optionally further comprise other components, such as fuses 7, 17, 18.

The connector 13 makes it possible to connect the power circuit 11 to the utilization circuit comprising, among others, the motor (s). This connector 13 allows disconnection, for example to be able to replace the entire power circuit 11 and thus the power battery 12. The electrical safety cutoff device 1 opens the power circuit 11 to secure access to the battery 12 and the electric vehicle.

The connection relay 14 makes it possible to control, by closing, respectively opening, of at least one contact, the switching on or off of the power circuit 11.

According to the invention, the electrical safety cut-off device 1 is bipolar and comprises two poles 5, 6, 8, 9 that can selectively be opened or closed. The safety electric breaking device 1 is arranged to cut the two poles 15, 16 of the power battery 12, as shown in Figures 4-6.

Such a configuration, cutting the two poles 15, 16 of the power battery 12, provides an improved safety downstream of the half-packs 12A, 12B of the power battery 12 and ensures a lack of potential difference, in more scenarios of failure, including in case of cumulative failure of several protective barriers.

The electrical safety cutoff device 1 may be arranged downstream of the connector 13. However, according to a preferred arrangement, the electrical safety cut-off device 1 is arranged between the power battery 12 and the connector 13. Thus it is guaranteed to ability to cut the two poles 15, 16 of the power battery 12. Such an arrangement, closer to the power battery 12 is safer in that it avoids electrical circuit lengths between the power battery 12 and the safety switching device 1 and thus eliminates several short-circuiting possibilities.

In order to improve the protection, including in complex failure scenarios, the power circuit 11 may be completed by at least a first secondary fuse 17. This first secondary fuse 17 may be arranged near the electrical safety cut-off device. 1, indifferently upstream, as shown in Figure 4, or downstream, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Said at least one first secondary fuse 17 is advantageously a slow fuse. A slow fuse is understood here relative to the at least one main fuse 7. Thus in the event of competition between a main fuse 7 and a secondary fuse 17, 18, one of the at least one main fuse 7 will melt primarily. According to a preferred embodiment, said first secondary fuse 17 is disposed on a pole 15, 16 not protected by a main fuse 7. Thus in FIG. 4, a single main fuse 7 protects the pole 15 of the power battery 12. The first secondary fuse 17 is then advantageously arranged so as to protect the other pole 16 of the power battery 12. On the contrary, in FIG. 5, a single main fuse 7 protects the pole 16 of the power battery 12. first secondary fuse 17 is then advantageously arranged to protect the other pole 15 of the power battery 12. Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment comprising two main fuses 7 protecting each of the poles 15, 16 of the power battery 12 This does not preclude a redundant protection conferred by a first secondary fuse 17 disposed here, for example, on the pole 16 of the power battery 12.

According to one embodiment, the power battery 12 is composed of at least two half-packs 12A, 12B. The power circuit 11 may then further comprise a second secondary fuse 18, advantageously arranged between the two half-packs 12A, 12B. This arrangement, opposite poles 15, 16 is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Said at least one second secondary fuse 18 is advantageously a slow fuse. A slow fuse is understood here relative to the at least one main fuse 7. Thus in the event of competition between a main fuse 7 and a secondary fuse 17, 18, one of the at least one main fuse 7 will melt primarily.

The current regulation of electric vehicles imposes a possibility of power failure on the two poles 15, 16 of the power battery 12. A monopolar electric safety cut-off device 31 according to the prior art, required the use of a connection relay 44 bipolar. The fact that the electrical safety breaking device 1 according to the invention is bipolar, advantageously allows to use a monopolar connection relay 14, as shown in Figures 4-6. Such a monopolar connection relay 14 can very well perform its function of switching on / off controllable by acting on a single pole 15, 16.

Such a monopolar connection relay 14 may be arranged in the power circuit 11 indifferently on one of the poles 15 or on the other 16.

Similarly, the connection relay 14 may be indifferently arranged, relative to the electrical safety cut-off device 1, upstream as shown in Figure 4, or downstream as shown in Figure 5.

In one embodiment where the power battery 12 is composed of at least two half-packs 12A, 12B, the connection relay 14 can be further disposed between the two half-packs 12A, 12B, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7-8, respectively 11-13, illustrate, with side planes, a possible embodiment of a base 3, respectively of a plug 2, forming together a safety electrical breaking device 1. The dimensions and the proportions are indicative.

Claims

An electric vehicle comprising a power circuit (11), said circuit comprising a power battery (12) having two half-packs (12A, 12B), a connector (13) for connecting the power circuit to an electric motor of said vehicle, as well as a connection relay (14) for powering or de-energizing the power circuit, the vehicle being characterized in that the power circuit (11) further comprises a safety electric breaking device (1) bipolar arranged so as to be able to disconnect the two poles (15, 16) of the power battery (12).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, the device comprising a base (3) and a plug (2) removable.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said plug (2) further comprises at least one main fuse (7) on at least one of the poles (5, 6).

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said at least one main fuse (7) is a fast fuse.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said sheet

(2) comprises a lever (4) locking / unlocking on the base

(3), adapted to achieve a reduction.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising means for testing (10, 20) the presence of the plug (2) in the base (3).

7. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electric safety cutoff device (1) is disposed between the power battery (12) and the connector (13).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the circuit of power (11) further comprises a first secondary fuse (17) disposed near the electric safety cut-off device (1).

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first secondary fuse (17) is a slow fuse.

The vehicle of claim 8 or 9, wherein said first secondary fuse.

(17) is arranged on a pole (15, 16) not protected by a main fuse (7).

11. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the power circuit (11) further comprising a second secondary fuse (18) disposed between the two half-packs (12A, 12B).

12. Vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said second secondary fuse.

(18) is a slow fuse.

13. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the connection relay (14) is monopolar.

14. An electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the connection relay (14) is disposed between the two half-packs (12A, 12B).